Police In Niger Arrest Two Suspected Impostors/ Scammers With 36 ATM Cards, Others

Olabode Adaramola

Police Intelligence Operatives, attached to the Niger state Police Command, who were on on Bank surveillance in Minna, that state capital  have arrested two suspected  scammers and imposters while  allegedly loitering within the branch of a commercial bank premises in the city with the view to defraud some unsuspecting innocent customers.

The suspects, identified as one Victor Okebugwu, ‘M’ aged 32 years of Tungan- Goro, Minna and his accomplice in crime, one James Amaonye, ‘M’, aged 33years, of Korokpa, near Chanchaga bridge, on the outskirts of  Minna.

According to a crime bulletin, signed by the Image Maker of the State’s Police Command, ASP Wasiu  Abiodun, a copy of which was made available to journalists  on Tuesday in Minna, stated that on 5th June, 2020, at about 11: 00hours, that a team of Police Intelligence Operatives on Bank surveillance in Minna arrested the two suspects, when they were noticed to be loitering within the premises of a Commercial Bank in Minna in a suspicious manner.

The Bulletin added that upon investigation by the police, that it was  revealed that the suspects specialized in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public under the pretence of opening Bank account for people, or to assist them in operating Automated Teller Machine( ATM).

ASP Wasiu Abiodun stated further that the following exhibits were recovered
33 pieces of GT Bank ATM cards, two pieces of  Access Bank ATM card, one Zenith Bank ATM card and Seven pieces of MTN Sim cards.

Other items, according to the Police Public Relations Officer were nine pieces of 9mobile Sim cards,  eight pieces of Airtel Sim cards, four  pieces of GT bank account opening forms and
19 pieces of Airtel and nine mobile customer registration forms, as well as one  Tecno black phone, one  Infinix S5 phone and one Motorcycle key, respectively.

He said, during interrogation, “the two suspects confessed  to the crime and claimed that the cards were collected from their game betting customers for purpose of crediting their account of proceeds from the games, and later unlawfully withdraw their money”.

Meanwhile, he stated that  the case was still  under investigation by the police, stressing that the suspects shall be charged to court as soon as the investigation on the matter was concluded.